"Captain we are now entering G'Kar space. What you want us to do?" Carter asked from the helm station.
Captain Wallace leaned forward and looked at the view screen and rubbed his chin. He was wondering if the Mullura had any ships or bases near the G'Kar star system. "Lieutenant Sovick scan for any Mullura ships or bases."
"Aye sir." It was quiet for nearly a minute and half, before Sovick replied. "No Mullura vessels or bases within our sensors range."
"Very well. It's time for us to begin our talks. Commander Carter proceed to their home world full impulse. Sovick drop the sensor masking, and relay that we are here to talk about a treaty and a possible help about librating them from their Mulluran oppressor. "Richard stood up from his seat and looked at Commander Mallory sitting at the guest seat on the Arizona Bridge. She looked at him and was hoping he wasn't going to do anything dramatic.
"Captain we are receiving a hail from the G'Kar Prime Minster." Sovick said with a calm no emotion response. Wallace's heart raced very fast. He had never done anything like this before. He took a deep breath, swallowed some salvia in his mouth and turned around to face the view screen.
"Put it on the screen."
A picture of a humanoid with no hair, red eyes, spots on his baldhead, and tan skin appeared. He didn't seem to be wearing a uniform.
[So the Mulluran enemies have come to ask for our help.]
"Yes, we need to know and understand our enemy better, so we can destroy him more easily." Wallace replied.
[And an enemy of ours is a friend in deed. What will you do for us if we help?]
"We can discuss it in person if you like. My aide Commander Mallory will better discuss this then I. I am only a soldier."
[And you are?"]
"I am sorry how rude of me. Captain Richard Wallace of the United Federation of Planets."
[Very well, you may beam down with Commander Mallory and yourself. I am interested in hearing your proposal.]
The screen went blank and Wallace gave a sigh of relief. "Captain I suggest we have some information handy to give to the G'Kar." Mallory suggested. "Very well give them the history of the Federation and advances in technology over the past 3 years. I'll meet you in transporter room 4 in 20 minutes."
Wallace and Mallory beamed down to the central administrative center of the G'Kar world. The G'Kar whom they had spoken with earlier greeted them, along with an honor guard carrying huge, double-sided halberds.
"Greetings, Federation officers. I am Prime Minister Ko'dan, of the G'Kar. You are Captain Wallace and Commander Mallory. Please come with me," he said.
Wallace and Mallory followed Ko'dan, noting that the honor guard filed in behind them. Mallory could sense that Wallace felt he was being led into a trap, but she also sensed that this was strictly a G'Kar ceremonial rite and was meant to honor their visitors.
Ko'dan, Wallace, and Mallory entered a large room where seven other G'Kar sat around a large, round, stone table. "May I introduce my cabinet," Ko'dan said as he took the farthest seat from the door. "Starting from my right, we have Defense Commissar Fa'long, Diplomatic Commissar Za'doc, Security Commissar Kel'da, Resources Commissar Mai'po, Labor Commissar Wa'bli, Health and Education Commissar Bay'thun, and People's Representative Pu'blus."
"Our pleasure," Mallory replied.
Ko'dan gestured for Wallace and Mallory to walk forward, which they did. The stone circle closed around them.
"We will now begin negotiations. As Prime Minister, my task is solely to moderate. The heads of the various Commissariats will inquire of your proposal, then we will convene for a vote."
Fa'long began the negotiations. "Your proposal to join forces with us is intriguing. However, how can we be sure that you are who you claim to be? We have had no dealings with your Federation; we do not know if you are truly strong enough to be an equal partner in this arrangement."
Wallace replied. "I can assure you that we are truly strong enough to carry our part of any bargain you care to strike. Our technology is the finest in the quadrant; our military forces unparalleled. You have seen for yourselves what our forces can do on the ground and in space to both the Jem'Hadar and their Mulluran keepers." He then described the task force assembled at Starbase 732.
"Most impressive," Za'doc said. "But if you are indeed so powerful, why seek our help? You could crush the Mullurans on your own!"
"It is not the intention or the policy of the Federation to engage in a long, protracted conflict. We wish to end this quickly and with as little bloodshed as possible," Mallory answered. "It is our hope that by joining in common cause with you that the Mullurans will come to the negotiating table and end the fighting."
"Your hopes are naive!" Kel'da yelled. "The Mullurans are scum. They have raided and enslaved our people and know nothing but the ways of force. Complete annihilation is the only solution."
Wallace and Mallory nodded to each other as their notion of the true function of the G'Kar Commissariat of Security was confirmed.
"If I may speak," Pu'blus interjected, "the people are tired of fighting. The levies for the draft and for labor are too oppressive. We cannot continue fighthing the Mullurans as we have been without destroying who we are! If this Federation can help us, then we should seriously consider their proposals!"
"The people! The people are lazy, and need discipline," Wa'bli snapped back. Mai'po nodded assent. "That may be the case, but the fact of the matter is that we are not utilizing what we have at anywhere near optimal efficiency. Perhaps the demands on the workers are too great."
"The workers always think they work too hard!"
"If I may," Mallory said, "our advisors can help you maximize the efficiency of all your operations. We can also bring in technology that will reduce or even eliminate the burden on many of your workers."
"But what will become of the workers?" Pu'blus answered. "People need to work in order to survive!"
"They can move on to other, more skilled tasks."
"Clearly your Federation does not understand what would be involved here," Bay'thun responded. "Many of our people are not suited to more skilled tasks. Some people are naturally ignorant; there's nothing that can be done about that!"
"Our educational theory and technology is also highly advanced," Wallace said. "In the Federation, all but the most severely handicapped can be rehabilitated to full intellectual function with a minimum of effort." This guy's head of their education department? Wallace thought. No wonder they haven't made more progress!
Za'doc entered into the conversation once again. "You make your Federation sound as though it is a utopia. If that is the case, then why do so many wish to come out into this sector to get away from it?" he asked.
"There are always individuals who feel uncomfortable in any society," Mallory said, knowing from what she sensed from the assembled commissars that this was as true of the G'Kar as it was of any other society. "And the Federation is expanding--mostly by peaceful means--into sectors that are for us new and uncharted. We wish to bring the benefits of our community to all who will accept them, but we have the means to defend ourselves and our friends if need be."
Fa'long consulted a computer screen. "Mulluran patrols have become less frequent in this sector. Commissar Kel'da will confirm that the Mullurans have shifted their resources to another front corresponding with the location given for the Federation colony."
Thank you for that piece of intelligence, Wallace and Mallory both thought.
"I do not like the notion of outsiders getting involved in our affairs," Kel'da said. "But if this will end the war, then perhaps it is time to move on to other things."
"Does the cabinet move to vote?" Ko'dan asked. The seven commissars clenched their hands together in front of their chests in an affirmative gesture.
"You will wait here," Ko'dan said to Wallace and Mallory. "We will decide."
The Prime Ministers and his seven commissars filed out of the room into another small room. Five minutes later, they re-emerged. "It is agreed," Ko'dan said. "The G'Kar Republic will ally with the Federation against the Mullurans. Captain Wallace, please name officers who can coordinate operations with our force commanders; Field Marshal Ra'mel will transmit our force capabilities to your vessel before the end of the day. Negotiations over aid and trade agreements will commence within three standard months."
Finally back aboard the Arizona with their jobs done, Captain Wallace and Commander Mallory headed to their respective offices to write and finalize reports and start coordination arrangements. After completing her tasks, Kitty went to her quarters. She reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of Teldarian Rum. She then grabbed a glass. As she sat down on the couch, she opened the bottle. Her work was done and they were on their way back to SB901.
"Computer, I am to receive no transmissions unless it's an emergency or it's the Captain."
<<Acknowledged>> came the reply.
With a sigh, she looked to the table where she had placed a small photo of her children. She turned her eyes from the picture of two happy children to the blackness of the space beyond the porthole. She poured a large amount of rum into the glass and drank it down quickly. She poured another drink and began sipping at that.
"Computer, search music database for music, circa: 1980's. Group Genesis. Look from compilation Invisible Touch."
<<Searching . . . . Found.>>
"Play full compilation."
As she sounds of the first track started, she swollowed another large mouthful of rum and closed her eyes, allowing the drink to penetrate her. As she felt the warm flush go through her, she took a deep breath. At least she had done her job today. She'd had a hand in an action that could possibly end the bloodshed of the current war. At least she could do that much . . . Though it would never bring back her children . . . With that last thought, she finished her second glass of rum and poured a third.